Since starting in 1882, Northwestern football has won eight Big Ten titles and had 15 College Football Hall of Fame inductees.
However, no Wildcat has ever won the Heisman Trophy — though Dan Persa may have had as good a chance as anyone in team history.
With his pinpoint accuracy and fearless running style, Persa put the nation on watch with a standout 2010 season, prompting the quarterback’s name to emerge in Heisman conversations heading into the next year. Despite the fact his recovery from injury hung overhead, Persa was recognized as one of the premier players in the sport, especially through a memorable campaign by his own school.